ENB Region 2 Completed Applications 02/18/2004

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (Department) has reviewed a hazardous waste management permit modification application from the above facility for its hazardous waste management Part 373 permit. The Department has made a tentative determination to modify the facility’s 6NYCRR Part 373 Permit to operate the hazardous waste storage facility.

There is a public comment period on the draft permit which will extend through April 2, 2004     

    

The hazardous wastes managed by Con Edison are generated by on-site and off-site maintenance activities on the company’s electric transmission and distribution system. These wastes include liquid and non-liquid PCB hazardous wastes.  The facility is owned and operated by Con Edison, and is located at 31-01 20^th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105. The site covers an area of approximately 216 acres.  PCB storage activities are carried out within the facility’s North Storage Yard area which is a 120,000 square feet restricted access area, and in an 8,500-gallon aboveground storage tank which is located within the adjacent wastewater treatment facility. The quantities of waste stored are given in Modules III and X of the draft Permit. Within the North Storage Yard, there is an 805 square feet PCB Storage Shed, three storage tankers with a combined capacity of 15,500 gallons currently undergoing closure, and up to two 30 cubic yard roll-off containers. The roll-off containers are protected from precipitation by a steel canopy. The 8,500 gallon aboveground storage tank is equipped with 150% secondary containment, high-level alarms and a leak detection system. The tank utilizes the existing wastewater treatment facility load/unload ramp which is equipped with secondary containment.

The facility’s PCB storage operations involve storage of liquid and non-liquid PCB wastes which are generated on-site and received from other off-site Con Edison facilities. Containerized liquid wastes are stored in DOT-approved fifty five gallons steel drums in the PCB Storage Shed, and bulk liquid wastes are stored in the 8,500-gallon storage tank. Non-liquid PCB wastes are stored in the 30 cubic yard roll-off containers. The facility will be constructing a 60-foot by 65-foot concrete storage pad beneath the existing PCB Storage Canopy after interim correction measures have been implemented at the North Storage Yard. This new storage area will be provided with integral secondary containment, ingress and egress access ramps, chemically compatible water stops and epoxy coating. When completed, the storage pad can store a maximum of 28 network transformers, 60 pole-type transformers, 96 drums of PCB liquids/non-liquids and 2 30 cubic yard roll-off containers.

At this time, the facility is proposing installation of an 10,000-gallon aboveground tank for consolidation and temporary storage of less-than-50-ppm PCB waste oil prior to off-site transportation for recycling or disposal. The tank itself will be equipped with 150% secondary containment and leak detection, high level and high-high level alarms, and will be located adjacent to the wastewater treatment facility. This new tank will utilize the existing wastewater treatment facility load/unload ramp which is equipped with secondary containment.

Based upon available information, the Department has made an assessment of the need for corrective action and has made a determination that there have been releases of hazardous waste or hazardous constituents to the environment that require corrective action.

All identified Solid Waste Management Units (SWMUs) and Areas of Concern (AOCs) on-site have completed the RFA stage of the corrective action process and Phases I, IIA, IIB and IIC of an RFI.  It is expected that Phase IID of the RFI ( collection of data for newly-identified AOCs and data gaps from Phases I-IIC, and investigation of historic MGP operations) will commence in Spring 2004. The facility is currently performing an RFI for the Eastern Parcel, a 20.9 acre parcel located east of the 31^st Street entrance road which will be sold to National Envelope Corp.

After review of the permit modification application, the Department has found it to be complete.  Based upon the complete application, the Department has made a tentative determination to issue the 6NYCRR Part 373 Permit of  the facility for the continued storage of  hazardous waste and has prepared a Draft Permit pursuant to the regulations in 6NYCRR Part 373-2 (Final Status Standards for Owners and Operators of Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities) as well as with all other applicable hazardous waste management laws and regulations.

        

Pursuant to Part 617 of the New York State regulations for Article 8, SEQRA (the State Environmental Quality Review Act), the Department has determined that the project is an unlisted action and will not have a significant impact on the environment. A Negative Declaration is on file.

Copies of the draft permits, the supporting permit application, and the Fact Sheet are available for inspection at:

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Division of Environmental Permits

                                                     NYSDEC, Region 2 Office

                                       47-40 21^st Street, Long Island City, NY 11101

                                           Contact Person: Mr. Harold Dickey

                                           Telephone Number: (718) 482-4997.

A mailing list will be maintained for this facility.  The public can submit a written request to the contact person to put on the mailing list.

Copies of these documents are also available for inspection at:

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,

Division of Solid and Hazardous Materials

Bureau of Hazardous Waste & Radiation Management

Albany NY 12233

Contact Person: Daniel Evans

Telephone No: (518) 402-8694

A copy of the Fact Sheet, which summarizes the permitting process may be obtained by contacting the aforementioned contact person.

All comments will be considered and evaluated in making the final determination to issue the permit.  Prior to the approval of the permit, the Department will respond to any comments submitted by the public.  If warranted, changes will be made in the draft version.  A notice of the final decision will be sent to each interested citizen or organizations who have submitted written comments or have requested such notice.

Comments on the 6NYCRR Part 373 Permit must be sent no later than April 2, 2004 to Mr. Dickey at the above address.

This application was filed and processed pursuant to the Environmental Conservation Law ("ECL") Article 3 Title 3 (General Functions), Article 8 (State Environmental Quality Review), Article 27 Title 9 (Industrial Hazardous Waste Management), and Article 70 (Uniform Procedures); and pursuant to Title 6 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York ("6NYCRR") Part 617 (State Environmental Quality Review), Part 621 (Uniform Procedures) Parts 370-374 (Hazardous Waste Management Facilities) and Part 376 (Land Disposal Restrictions).